2017 CrossFit Games live stream, schedule, how to watch, Australians, leading contenders

IT’S the ultimate test to find the fittest humans on the planet.

The Crossfit Games return for their 11th annual instalment this week, bringing together some of the world’s most incredible and committed athletes.

Since its inception in 2007, the event has become renowned as one of the most gruelling in all of sport. Its popularity continues to soar, with Forbes labelling CrossFit “one of the fastest growing sports in America”.

Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of the 2017 event, starting on Thursday.

HOW TO WATCH: LIVE STREAM

The CrossFit Games will be broadcast live online via Facebook, the official CrossFit Games site and CBS Sports. Watch live via the Facebook stream.

STANDINGS

Top ten after Day 1

Men

1. MATHEW FRASER (260)

2. JONNE KOSKI (246)

3. RICKY GARARD (236)

4. BJÖRGVIN KARL GUÐMUNDSSON (222)

5. BRENT FIKOWSKI (206)

6. NOAH OHLSEN (180)

7. DAKOTA RAGER (178)

8. CODY MOONEY (168)

9. JASON SMITH (166)

10. BEN SMITH (164)

Women

1. TIA-CLAIR TOOMEY (262 points)

2. SAMANTHA BRIGGS (262)

3. JAMIE GREENE (242)

4. KRISTI ERAMO (222)

5. TENNIL REED-BEUERLEIN (204)

6. RAGNHEIÐUR SARA SIGMUNDSDOTTIR (204)

7. KRISTIN HOLTE (198)

8. KATRIN TANJA DAVIDSDOTTIR (172)

9. KARA WEBB (170)

10. ANNIE THORISDOTTIR (168)

WHERE & WHEN

After seven years in Carson, California, the 2017 Reebok CrossFit Games move to the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The event runs for four days from August 3-6, with the action beginning at 8am local time on Thursday (11pm AEST).

STAGES

The annual CrossFit Games represents the culmination of a three-stage qualification journey.

The Open stage (February-Match) is a five-week, five-workout competition open to anybody. Entries are validated by video or a CrossFit affiliate.

The top athletes from each of the 17 regions qualify for the second stage of the competition, the Regionals.

This stage (May-June) is run over three days, using a uniform workout across eight regional finals around the globe. The top five athletes from each regional event in each category (men, women and teams) advance to the CrossFit Games, along with qualifiers in teenage and Masters categories.

CrossFit Games workouts are designed to test a wide range of athletes’ capabilities including strength, speed and endurance. Some workouts are not announced until right before they start, adding an element of surprise for competitors and making them harder to train for.

Events are worth up to 100 points with scoring based on finishing position. At the end of the weekend, the athlete with the most points is the winner.

If an athlete fails to complete an event within the time cap (for timed events), their score will be capped, and they receive a one-second penalty for each rep not completed. Some events have a minimum work requirement. Failing to meet those means a competitor cannot move on to the next event.

AUSTRALIANS & LEADING CONTENDERS

Australian interest in this year’s event will be strong with Tia-Clair Toomey again shaping up as a leading contender for victory in the women’s event.

Both years she finished second behind Iceland’s Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir but last year’s event was particularly hard to swallow given she led going into the final day and ended up losing by just 11 points.

Toomey was beaten at the Pacific regionals by Kara Webb, who gives Australia another genuine shot at the title. The 27-year-old is competing at her sixth CrossFit Games, with her best finish fifth in 2015.

Davidsdottir’s biggest threat to a third straight victory looms in the shape of Icelandic rival

Sara Sigmundsdottir, who has held the edge in open and regional qualifying this year, and finished third behind Toomey in 2015 and 2016.

Australia’s best chance in the men’s event is James Newbury, a 26-year-old former rugby league player who finished second and Pacific regionals and finished 24th on debut at the main event last year.

Newbury is considered an outside chance of victory behind dominant men’s favourite Mat Fraser. The 27-year-old American broke through for his first win last year after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Canadians Patrick Vellner and Brent Fikoswki loom as his major threats.